The "virus" What are your thoughts

[b_arrington]

My wife was just told she can work from home instead of her Manhattan office. She has a compromised immune system so I’m thrilled.

My company said anyone that’s travelled to a warning level 2 or 3 area is not allowed on campus until they’ve 14 days after they left that area, and no business travel to those areas. Plus, consider canceling events.

 

[DWABoat]

Moving away from politics and back to facts for a moment, one of my clients just suspended all outside visitors to their facilities, and my son's alma mater just suspended all face to face instruction and is switching to remote instruction through at least April 12th. They are allowing all students to return home should they choose to, and are requiring any students travelling to countries with CDC Level 2 or Level 3 travel warnings to report their travel to the school.

One of my employee's spouse works for Dell, and they are encouraging all staff who are capable of working from home to do so through at least March 24th.

Yobub,
Sorry for going political on you. I try not to spout. Sometimes I can’t hold it in.
Please keep the facts coming to keep me grounded!

 

[Third Edition]

From the CDC website today:
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person:

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

That last bullet kinda shoots down the oft voiced idea that masks are useless.

 

[Windjammer]

There is a lot of debate right now whether China is actually recovering production or just trying build image.

What % of products in Walmart or Target - or Lowes are sourced from China? I don't know the number but suspect it is fairly high.

Material I have read (on the Internet so it must be accurate) is that supply chains for major retailers will start to be disrupted in late March through April timeframe.

What happens when a Walmart is half empty? Do they close? What is their inventory threshold?

I would guess that about 80% of products sold at Walmart, Target, and Lowes, etc are sourced from China. Was in Home Depot this weekend and did not notice any empty shelves, but they don't have massive warehouses full of back up stock (Lowes probably does not as well). My daughter says it takes about 4 to 5 weeks to ship by boat from China to USA, so we may start seeing some shortages soon.

 

[yobub]

Yobub,
Sorry for going political on you. I try not to spout. Sometimes I can’t hold it in.
Please keep the facts coming to keep me grounded!

No worries - I'm actually an Independent too, but in our state we don't have to register. I just find that the discussions are more productive if we aren't trying to score points. All good.

 

[yobub]

From the CDC website today:
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person:

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

That last bullet kinda shoots down the oft voiced idea that masks are useless.

@Third Edition Yeah, if you scroll farther down on that same CDC page, they say that they want to reserve the masks for those who are sick or for caregivers:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/201...rus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

I think this has been part of their message for a few weeks, that they want to discourage mask use for people who aren't in contact with someone who is known to be infected, to make sure masks are available for those who are in contact with known infections.

 

[Third Edition]

Not at all contesting your very correct post, yobub. Just pointing out the fallacy of the idea that masks aren't effective.

 

[yobub]

@Third Edition Agreed - I think the CDC didn't really say this at first, but more recently they have been mode direct about why they are providing that guidance.

What is tough about this situation is that the messages evolve (change) every day. If you aren't following it, from the core sources, on a daily basis, you are misinformed. For example, I was discussing some of the facts about asymptomatic spread with my Uber driver on Friday afternoon. Either that knowledge changed over the weekend or I missed the change, because the data I saw on Sunday said that they weren't seeing asymptomatic spread. Earlier in the week it was a strong hypothesis. And I'm relying exclusively on core sources for my information - I'm not relying on the TV media at all.

My business partner and I have had three discussions in the past 24 hours to try to decide whether we should shut down travel for our staff. We are much less effective if we work remote, but we also want to protect our clients, our staff, and their families. Today we actively engaged our clients in this discussion, both to get their "corporate" perspective, but also to tap into their clinical perspective, because we work with Providers and Health Insurance companies, and have direct relationships with a range of clinical resources to get their perspectives.

 

[El Capitan]

@Third Edition Agreed - I think the CDC didn't really say this at first, but more recently they have been mode direct about why they are providing that guidance.

What is tough about this situation is that the messages evolve (change) every day. If you aren't following it, from the core sources, on a daily basis, you are misinformed. For example, I was discussing some of the facts about asymptomatic spread with my Uber driver on Friday afternoon. Either that knowledge changed over the weekend or I missed the change, because the data I saw on Sunday said that they weren't seeing asymptomatic spread. Earlier in the week it was a strong hypothesis. And I'm relying exclusively on core sources for my information - I'm not relying on the TV media at all.

My business partner and I have had three discussions in the past 24 hours to try to decide whether we should shut down travel for our staff. We are much less effective if we work remote, but we also want to protect our clients, our staff, and their families. Today we actively engaged our clients in this discussion, both to get their "corporate" perspective, but also to tap into their clinical perspective, because we work with Providers and Health Insurance companies, and have direct relationships with a range of clinical resources to get their perspectives.

In the same boat. I’m in HIT and although we use virtual meetings for sales we also try to meet onsite to shake hands and kiss babies.

My wife works in patient access and she said people are calling demanding their free lab test. They are directed to call their doctors. These people are asymptomatic. Just scared.

There is some inconsistency in how all this is being handled. Since when does a POTUS or any world leader go in public to address a flu? When was the last time an entire country went quarantine? NY Gov rolled out the National Guard.

Something isn’t right.

 

[DWABoat]

In the same boat. I’m in HIT and although we use virtual meetings for sales we also try to meet onsite to shake hands and kiss babies.

My wife works in patient access and she said people are calling demanding their free lab test. They are directed to call their doctors. These people are asymptomatic. Just scared.

There is some inconsistency in how all this is being handled. Since when does a POTUS or any world leader go in public to address a flu? When was the last time an entire country went quarantine? NY Gov rolled out the National Guard.

Something isn’t right.

Good points. There is so much unconventional action by this administration, it is hard to tell if they are being completely open. I am not criticizing this administration for being different than past ones, Lord knows we needed a breath of air from politics as usual from the past several administrations.
Of course, it doesn’t help that Will Smith’s movie I Am Legend was on last night!!! I am sure it was only mere coincidence.

 

[yobub]

Since when does a POTUS or any world leader go in public to address a flu? When was the last time an entire country went quarantine? NY Gov rolled out the National Guard.

Something isn’t right.

We have all heard the comparison to the flu. Usually the statement is something along the lines of "80,000 people a year die of the flu. Why isn't the media talking about that?".

I don't have any unique insight, but one way to think about it is this: We've all seen the discussion that follows some path similar to "80,000 people a year die of the flu, why doesn't the media talk about that?" or "We don't quarantine for the flu".

These statements are both true. The 80,000 flu death rate might be overstated based on current CDC estimates, but let's agree that it is true.

A consideration that might explain why the messaging and behaviors on this different is that medical professionals and the CDC are trying to prevent another 80,000 US deaths by taking these steps.

If this virus is like the flu, officials may be concerned about adding another 16 million medical visits and 350,000 hospitalizations into the health system. Another consideration is that we see these levels of flu infection and death rate and 45% of the population is already immunized against the flu. No one is immunized against COVID-19, including the medical professionals that need to treat the sick.

 

[M Prod]

If you guys haven’t seen it, I’d recommend taking a look at the documentary “Pandemic” on Netflix. It was made before this thing happened, but very relevant. Highly recommended.

 

[BOB TYSON]

My assumption is that I will contract the virus at some point over the next several months. That said, it looks as though its what my body does with it that matters most. I will stay as healthy as I can and try to postpone contracting the virus in hopes that information becomes available on how to successfully treat patients. Good luck to all and be smart about where you go.

 

[El Capitan]

Yobob,

Understood but this goes beyond hospital admissions and overcrowded hospitals in the US.

Unusual steps include vaccines are in a hurry, stock market gyrations, quarantine mandates supported by National Guard.

This isn’t usual response to a flu outbreak. Besides, the course of action if someone becomes symptomatic is not hospitalization it’s self quarantine.

There’s just too much inconsistency.

 

[DWABoat]

My assumption is that I will contract the virus at some point over the next several months. That said, it looks as though its what my body does with it that matters most. I will stay as healthy as I can and try to postpone contracting the virus in hopes that information becomes available on how to successfully treat patients. Good luck to all and be smart about where you go.

With that incredible boat you have, maybe it is time to take an extended cruise for a few months!!

 

[b_arrington]

Yobob,

Understood but this goes beyond hospital admissions and overcrowded hospitals in the US.

Unusual steps include vaccines are in a hurry, stock market gyrations, quarantine mandates supported by National Guard.

This isn’t usual response to a flu outbreak. Besides, the course of action if someone becomes symptomatic is not hospitalization it’s self quarantine.

There’s just too much inconsistency.

To clarify on the National Guard part, they are not enforcing a "quarantine" in New Rochelle, NY. It's a "containment zone". This a weird term that could mean one of several things, so: within 1 mile of the synagogue that's linked to the outbreak, closing of places where large groups gather. That means places of worship, schools, public gathering spaces, etc. Grocery stores and other businesses are remain open. Unlike Italy, there are currently no restrictions on freedom of movement within or into / out of that zone. The National Guard will be in place to support this zone on Thursday. Frankly, I'm not sure what they will be doing.

Source: interview with the mayor of New Rochelle on the radio (WNYC) this morning.

 

[El Capitan]

So they call the reserve military to manage a “containment zone” where the public can move in and out freely?

Why then do we need a branch of the military there?

Support what? I don’t get it.

 

[firecadet613]

So they call the reserve military to manage a “containment zone” where the public can move in and out freely?

Why then do we need a branch of the military there?

Support what? I don’t get it.

I agree. This isn't adding up.

 

[DWABoat]

I agree. This isn't adding up.

Agree. The Mayor can’t call up the National Guard. Only the state Governor can do that under specific legal guidelines.

I don’t know why the Mayor was interviewed about that. Media should be at the Governor’s Office.

 

[yobub]

@El Capitan and @firecadet613 Please help me understand what you are saying. Sometimes vague comments can be misinterpreted unless you really understand the intent of the author. Are you saying this isn't as serious as the CDC is saying and this is all an overreaction, or are you saying these extreme measure indicate that COVID-19 is more serious than the CDC is saying, and we aren't getting a truthful story from the medical professionals?

I'm not questioning your statements, just trying to understand your points.